Friends, Brazil, the world headquarters for partying and debauchery, isn't feeling the carnival vibe right now. That's because the coronavirus appears to be raising death rates all over South America's largest country. Testing is limited, so it's hard to tell how many Brazilians have the virus (even harder to tell than it is here!), but, if death rates soar, well, you can add two and two together to make four, can't you? Now, we aren't hearing about the effect of the coronavirus in much of the developing world. The number of confirmed cases in most Third world countries is tiny...but that doesn't mean many cases aren't going undetected. Then again, poor countries are used to death, so it might not phase them nearly as much as it does us. At the end of the day, we need to look at mortality figures when this pandemic has run its course. We might learn some interesting things. We might learn that just as many people died from increases in poverty and deferred medical care as they did from the virus. We might learn that the overall death rate didn't shift that much, because the virus mainly felled people who were likely to die soon regardless. We might learn that the virus will impact developing countries far more than it impacts us (imagine that!), because of their inability to organize effective countermeasures. Or...we might learn none of these things, because any of them could turn out to be untrue. We shall see!
https://www.foxnews.com/world/brazil-spike-coronavirus-cases-hospitals-overloaded
In other world news, Trump is taking on the Swedes, defending America's lockdowns as the right approach to fighting COVID-19. Well, on this one I have to take issue with our glorious leader. He's right that the Swedes are seeing higher death rates than neighboring Nordic countries, but he fails to point out that their approach has distinct advantages, and it still hasn't produced death rates as high as Italy, Spain, or Belgium... It may also soon achieve herd immunity, which could lead to LOWER death rates, when all is said and done. I can see where Trump is coming from -- he doesn't want to admit that our strategy here in the U.S. could have been wrong -- but frankly it may have been, and we should be adult enough to acknowledge that possibility.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-swedens-lockdown-who-praise
Here's another article on COVID-19 in the prison system, full of crocodile tears for our poor incarcerated maniacs. The real story ought to be, however, that huge numbers of prisoners have been infected but remarkably few have died!
https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-prison-coronavirus-outbreak-70-percent-federal-prisoners-test-positive
While most of the country seems to be moving in the direction of freeing the American people from punitive lockdowns, California is taking a step backwards, closing all beaches and state parks. The reason? Gov. Newsom doesn't like to see evidence of people having fun, when he's specifically instructed them not to...
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/30/848151290/calif-governor-expected-to-order-closure-of-all-beaches-and-state-parks?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=nprblogscoronavirusliveupdates
And, lastly, you've got to love good, old fashioned lefty hypocrisy. Check out this clip from Tucker Carlson about President Obama's "essential" golf outing:
https://video.foxnews.com/v/6153119056001#sp=show-clips
Obama's not alone. Pretty much every liberal is congratulating him or herself for social distancing and mask-wearing these days, and they're usually oblivious to all the ways in which they're NOT complying with the overriding message that we should hunker down and leave our homes only when absolutely necessary.
This article and many others like it on this site have convinced me that both of our major political parties are unfit to govern The United States of America, and are run by a bunch of damn fools! In the end, both the DemoCRAZIES and the RePOOPlicans will drag us down all the way to hell. What should be a purely medical issue with a virus has turned into a continuing political war between two mediocre entities. What a shame (to say the very least) that our country was designed by some of the most brilliant people in history, and has been hijacked by a bunch of greedy and incompetent dregs. Goddamn all of our politicians!
ReplyDeleteHowever, as another duped American, I would like to support social distancing by recommending that opposite sex couples maintain at least six feet from each other while engaging in sexual intercourse.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: Haven't been able yet to access the Fox article; I will when your post appears on my Email. Has not Pres. Bolsonaro
ReplyDeleteof Brazil been labeled by the MSM an avatar of President Trump in both discredited style and convictions? I first learned of the situation in Brazil today in an AP blurb but AP is so blatantly prejudiced against Pres. Trump and what and who he represents that I automatically discount anything they say. Could it be that this probably widespread bias makes MSM accounts of Brazil to be untrustworthy (I do not, of course, consider Fox in the MSM)?
Ray, it's hard to fault your logic here -- the Republicans appear to have let us down just as much as the Democrats in this pandemic. We don't think much of it, apparently, but the $3 trillion and counting that we've spent on this country-wide freak out was authorized by both parties and signed into law by President Trump. That's $3 trillion that we won't be able to spend on a lot of other worthy causes, because, in case anyone's forgotten, money really doesn't grow on trees.
ReplyDeleteJack, there's no question that the media loathes Bolsonaro, but according to the Fox article Brazil's states and localities have instituted lockdowns despite Bolsonaro, so probably reality is just catching up with Brazil and they are seeing mass casualties accumulate based on infections that occurred before the countermeasures went into effect. Either that, or Brazilians just won't stop manhandling each other regardless of what public health authorities say.
Thanks Dr. Waddy
DeleteI really am fed up with our damn politicians, all of them! There is no excuse whatsoever for not having a political party (and one is all we really need if you think about it), that governs by The Constitution, and represents the interests of The United States of America, and ALL of the American people. Neither the Democrats or Republicans really fill that need. Above all, we need a party that is strongly nationalist and not just on paper. We are up against at least two countries that are intensely nationalist, and both strive to become super powers. With this manufactured pandemic, we have already let one of those countries manipulate us and turn us against ourselves in various ways, aided and abetted by our media, film industry, and academic community. We also need to get out of the United Nations and send it packing elsewhere, where many branches of it are anyway. We also need to think about the value of belonging to antiquated Cold War organizations such as NATO. At home, we need to militarize our border with Mexico, like yesterday. In order to accomplish any of these life saving changes our current politicians would have to undergo prefrontal lobotomies, and then somehow be reprogrammed to realize they are Americans and not pimps and agents of foreign powers.
Well said Ray.
DeleteJack, other than a few shows on FOX, I think it is time to start listing them as MSM. With Paul Ryan on board, I have noticed just some slight changes. I think it will be well advised for Tucker, Hannity, Judge Jeannine and perhaps Lou Dobbs to watch what they say or they will end up like Trish Regan. I do believe Jesse Watters got that message loud and clear.
DeleteAs for the President going after Sweden, I am highly disappointed. I think what is more troubling is that the President is going along with the shutdown. Honestly, he was darned if he did or not.
ReplyDeleteSo, Dr Waddy and Jack, how much longer will we be under 'house arrest' here in NY? Is there a end in site? Just wondering.
ACHTUNG Linda! How dare you question the directives of Der Governor. You will obey his Fuhrerbefehle at all times. If you do not obey, you will be executed for treason. Do you understand Linda? ACHTUNG Linda!
DeleteRay: Completely agree on the U.N.; I'd give them a year to get out of NYC and good riddance.Why, they could move to Amsterdam and give Slick Willy his heart's desire (so to speak)by making him Secretary General (really, it has been considered). Oh he'd like Amsterdam alright. NATO? Might be time to let Western Europe go it alone. They can keep the Bear at bay if they really want to. Us and the Brits should stay close though.
ReplyDeleteLinda: Our cable won't give me the audio on Fox News or Business and so I don't see it very much. Didn't know they had Paul Ryan; that's a bad sign.It is very discouraging to have details of one's daily life dictated by the second of the disdainful Cuomos. NY is lost.
.
Ray, I concur that both parties disappoint us on a regular basis, but you have to give the Republicans credit for traveling part of the way to nationalism/conservatism under Trump. It wasn't so long ago that Republicans avoided talking about immigration and trade. Trump has given them a good kick in the rear, and the party really has moved to the right (or rather, the right side) on those issues. Having said all that, if the elite succeeded in ousting Trump, I think we can safely assume that the GOP would backslide.
ReplyDeleteLinda, you'll see that my latest article addresses Trump's attacks on Sweden. I'm disappointed in him too. He was bullied by the pandemic hysterics of his advisors, and now that he's cast his lot with them he won't easily change his mind, nor could he, politically, without suffering major loss of face. Having said all that, if there ever was a point to these shutdowns, that logic is rapidly disintegrating. You can see the public mood shifting by the day. Even pandemic "heroes" like Cuomo and Newsom are starting to get pushback. Help is on the way!
As for the UN, it's so impotent that I see no reason not to humor it. Remember, we can veto anything it does, or thinks of doing.
NATO is another kettle of fish. I personally think it's outlived its usefulness. The Europeans ought to be able to stand on their own, uh, 54 feet by now.
I hope your right...we have a neighbor (husband/wife) who are in the "know" and they said our Republican Mayor is completely on board on NOT opening and supports Cuomo. Sad but true. I just dont know how much longer we can do this...not just talking financially, Dr. Waddy. The weather is quite nice, but the state police and county police are out in full force ordering ppl to wear masks in public.
DeleteLinda: Your city demonstrates dictatorial Cuomos's disdain for any who counter him in any way. This MUST be fully considered when anyone considers Cuomo's probably totalitarian intent, even unto the national level within a year.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Hornell sounds way more draconian than Rochester! Many people are on the streets without masks here. I also know of several people who go to Wegmans and Walmart and don't wear masks.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, even Cuomo sees the writing on the wall. We're about to un-pause ourselves, although I expect the pace will be slow.